Should I bargain for everything I want to buy in Thailand?

No. If an item has a price tag then you're not expected to bargain. You are not expected to bargain in a restaurant either.

While bargaining is a central part of the Thai shopping experience, you should approach it with a healthy attitude. The point of bargaining isn't to see the vendor lose money, but rather to get a price that you are both happy with. There can be a lot of tooing and froing on price, but it's best done with a smile and a laugh rather than a scoul and finger pointing.

Remember once you start bargaining, if the vendor accepts a price you offer, then you should buy the good. It is considered very bad form to decline a purchase after having a price accepted.

There is no hard and fast rule on how much you should try to get knocked off the price. Obviously in tourist areas, for example Bangkok's Sukhumvit Road, the markup can be extraordinary and you could work towards a discount of perhaps 60-70% off the opening price. In other places though a 10% discount may be more reasonable.

A good way to get some benchmarks is to peruse similar goods in the big shopping centres (where the prices are marked) this should give you an idea of a base price to work around.

Lastly, many stallholders believe that selling to the first customer of the day brings them good fortune for the day. This gives you a bit of an advantage to wear the price down a little more. You'll know you were the first if, after the sale, the vendor gets your money and touches all their products with it.

More Travelfish FAQs

Please find below some of the more frequently asked questions (FAQ) people have about travelling to Thailand. We've tried to answer all the most frequently asked questions, but if you have another query about Thailand, please try our Travelfish messageboard.